Baltimore

Stroll the lively Inner Harbor waterfront to enjoy shops, restaurants and scenic harbor views. Then head to the National Aquarium to see thousands of marine and freshwater animals in immersive exhibits like a tropical rainforest and a dramatic shark gallery, so buy tickets in advance and dive in.

Stand on the star-shaped Fort McHenry where Francis Scott Key watched the 1814 bombardment of Baltimore and wrote the words that became the “Star-Spangled Banner.” You can tour the ramparts and museum exhibits managed by the National Park Service, enjoy waterfront views, and come away with a vivid slice of American history, so plan your visit.

Explore an extensive collection of historic locomotives and railroad artifacts housed in the 19th‑century roundhouse at Mount Clare Station, one of the oldest railroad sites in the United States. Learn how railroads shaped early America through well‑curated exhibits and restored engines, then stop by to see and climb aboard real pieces of rail history.

Step into the modest rowhouse where Edgar Allan Poe lived during his Baltimore years and explore period rooms and displays about his life, writing, and the city’s gothic literary past. The compact museum offers an atmospheric, up-close look at Poe’s early career, so plan a visit when you are in Baltimore.

Walk the grassy slopes of Federal Hill Park for sweeping views of Baltimore’s skyline and the Inner Harbor. Bring a blanket, find a spot on the lawn, then stay for sunset to watch the harbor and city lights come alive — a beloved local lookout.

Visit Baltimore’s Washington Monument in Mount Vernon, the nation’s first major memorial to George Washington, completed in 1829. Admire the classical column from Mount Vernon Place, enjoy its winter holiday illumination, and check visitor hours before you climb to the top so you can plan your visit.